Camp-table.



PATENTBD OCT. 3

R. R. RAYMOND. CAMP TABLE. APPLIOATION FILED PEB.11, 1905,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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' PATENTBD OCT. 3,1906.

R..R. RAYMOND.

CAMP TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.11,1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ZTNTTFD STATES PATET OFFTOE.

CAMP-TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1905.

Application filed February 11, 1905. Serial No. 245,308.

To rr/ZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT R. RAYMOND, captain Corps of Engineers, United States Army, stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Camp-Tables; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to folding tables, more particularly to this class of furniture for use with a camp-kit; and the objects of the invention are to improve the construction of such devices, with simplicity of parts and cheapness of manufacture.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a table of not too great dimensions for convenient packing with standard camp furniture, having its legs so located that a chair may be drawn up to it comfortably on any side, and provided with automatic braces and locks therefor adapted to hold the top level and rigid.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a folding table without loose pieces, neat in appearance, light in weight, and generally obviating many of the objections which have heretofore been found in devices of this class.

To the accomplishment of these objects and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the novel construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred embodiment thereof, in which the same reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the table set up for use. Fig. 2 shows a plan View of the under side of the table with legs folded. Fig. 3 shows the spreader for holding the top rigid and level, being a sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: shows a similar view to Fig. 3, the top being in partial folded position. Fig. 5 shows a similar view to Fig. 3, the top being in full folded position. Fig. 6 shows the locking means for holding the spreader for the top in position, being a sectional view on line 6 6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 shows a perspective view in detail of the leg-braces. Fig. 8 shows an end and front view of the clips secured to the tablelegs in which the leg-braces slide during the process of folding, and Fig. 9 shows a perspective detail view of the angle-lug used for two of the leg-braces.

Referring to the drawings, the table-top consists of two leaves a and I), hinged together, as at c, the general construction being similar to the familiar backgammon or checker board, so that when the top is folded it forms a shallow box whose top and bottom are the leaves a and Z) and whose sides and ends are the light reinforcing-frame d.

The legs are preferably four in number and v are formed in any convenient manner, as of an L-shaped piece of wood, suitably braced, as by pieces 6, and are secured at the ends of the table within the strips (Z, two legs f extending when folded along the outer sides of the table and two legs 9 extending within the legs f, all four legs being pivotally secured to the table, as by hinges h. VVhenthe table is opened for use, the legs are raised to their proper positions and held there by means of braces v and k for legs f and g, respectively. The four braces c' are similar in construction, but are secured to the table differentlythat is, braces z are preferably pivoted at one end directly to the side strips (Z, and braces Z". are preferably pivoted at one end on buttons Z of angle-lugs Z, conveniently placed on the table. On each of the table-legs is pivoted a clip m in the nature ofa sleeve, held in place by a headed screw n, and the leg-braces are mounted to slide within these clips. As the legs are raised their braces slide through the clips until stopped by their bent free ends 71:, in which position the head of screw it registers with an aperture z' in the free end of the braces, which holds them firmly in place. The braces are slightly bent or sprung so that they press constantly toward the legs, and thus engage with the screws automatically and remain so engaged until pressure is applied to disengage them.

To look the table-top so that it will be rigid and level when in use and not fold up unless desired, the locking means shown in Figs. 2 to 6 is preferably used. As there shown, it comprises base-pieces 0, secured rigidly to the under side of the table-top, preferably at each end thereof, on which pieces are pivotally mounted spreaders made in two pieces 19 p and hinged together, as at (1, being also made sufficiently deep for strength. As is readily seen from the views, these spreaders act as trusses to prevent breaking downward. To

prevent bending in the opposite direction, a clip 1" is secured to the pieces of which the legs are formed, preferably in the position shown by Fig. 2, each having a hooked end 7', forming a substantially L-shaped lockingpiece of sui'licient length to overlap and engage the spreaders p p when the legs are raised, thus locking them in position and preventing any movement thereof until the legs are again folded down.

The operations of opening and folding are obvious and consist of but few motions-t. 0., to open, spread the leaves and raise the legs; to fold, reverse the operation.

It is not desired to be understood that the invention is limited to the details of construction and arrangement of parts as herein described and illustrated, as it is manifest that numerous variations and modifications may be made in the features of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention and improvements. The right is thereforereserved to all such variations and modifications as properly fall within the scope of the invention and the terms of the following claims.

I claim 1. In a table having a folding top and fold ing legs, means for spreading said top, a clip on each of said legs and means on said clips constructed to engage said spreading means and lock the same in extended position when the legs are unfolded, substantially as described. v

2. In a table having a folding top and folding legs, means for spreading said top, and L-shaped clips on the legs constructed to engage and lock said spreading means in extended position when the legs are unfolded, substantially as described.

3. In a table having folding legs, braces therefor pivoted at one end to the table, pivoted guiding-clips on the legs in which said braces are adapted to slide, and means on said braces for engaging said clips to retain said legs in unfolded position, substantially as described.

t. In a table having folding legs, guidingclips thereon mounted on suitable pivots, and braces for said legs adapted to slide within said clips pivoted at one end to the table and provided at their free ends with apertures for engaging said pivots to retain said legs in unfolded position, substantially as described.

5. In a folding table,a top having two leaves, four independent legs pivoted thereto, means for spreading the top leaves, means on each of said legs for locking said spreading means in extended position when the legs are unfolded, and means for bracing said legs when unfolded, substantially as described.

6. 1nafoldingtable,atopl'iavi-ngtwoleaves, two independent overlapping legs on each leaf, means connected to each leaf for spreading the same simultaneously, means for locking said spreading means in extended position operated by unfolding the legs, and means for bracing said legs when unfolded, substantially as described.

7. In a table having a folding top and overlapping folding legs, pivoted braces connecting the leaves of the top for spreading the same, clips on the legs constructed to engage and lock said braces in extended position when the legs are unfolded and leg-braces for retaining said legs in position when unfolded, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT R. RAYMOND.

Witnesses JOHN MGVEY, ARTHUR L. SMITH. 

